Tourism is a rapidly growing industry in Iceland, which increases pressure
on the society infrastructure, including greatly increased stress on water
supplies in rural areas. In this research microbiological condition at 444
small water utilities was analyzed based on data from regular surveillance
from 7 Local Competent Authorities in Iceland. Compliance with the
Icelandic drinking regulation with regard to Heterotrophic Plate Counts,
Total coliform and E.coli was studied. The results show that the water
supplies in rural areas that serve tourists have far more microbes than
others in the same size class and there are even greater differences when
compared to water supplies that serve more than 500 people. The reasons
for this are likely to include an inability to cope with variable seasonal
loads, limited service in remote locations, and unclear accountability.